Posted on 01/18/2012 7:02:08 AM PST by SeekAndFind
ATHENS — Available for rent: The Acropolis.
In a move bound to leave many Greeks and scholars aghast, Greece's culture ministry said Tuesday it will open up some of the debt-stricken country's most-cherished archaeological sites to advertising firms and other ventures.
The ministry says the move is a common-sense way of helping "facilitate" access to the country's ancient Greek ruins, and money generated would fund the upkeep and monitoring of sites. The first site to be opened would be the Acropolis.
Archaeologists, however, have for decades slammed such an initiative as sacrilege.
The culture ministry said any renting of ancient Greek sites would be subject to strict conditions.
According to a ministerial briefing dating from the end of December, a commercial firm could rent the Acropolis for a professional photographic shoot for as little as 1,600 euros a day ($2,046). Demonstrators could also rent the ancient landmark.
Greece needs every euro it can get. The country's public coffers are drained and the nation is struggling to avoid a historic debt default in March.
Greece was bailed out in May 2010 by the European Union and International Monetary Fund and is in the process of nailing down a second rescue, though it is undergoing tough talks with private creditors to reduce its massive debt mountain.
Commercial use of Greece's archaeological sites has until now been the responsibility of the Central Council of Archaeology, which has been very choosy about who gains access.
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“O” should go THERE and make his nomination acceptance in a REAL temple with REAL columns. The DNC wcan fork over the case for the rental!!!
“O” IS after all, a god!! Right?
How very sad.
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Ha!!! THAT’S too much!!!
The Romans “rented” them for a few hundred years.
The Romans “rented” them for a few hundred years.
That would be the equivalent of putting up ads for Darwinism in the Sistine Chapel.
like the British have been renting out their museums in order to allow receptions in galleries with their looted treasures.
actually that theater is the oldest continuously used amphitheater in the world.
I think they are refering to the Parthenon itself.
BTW the new museum would be top notch for a reception.
actually at one time it was consecrated as a church.
given the number of wedding proposals there, the only question is how does one feel about having a reception at a place where every single major hotel and tall building can see into the acropolis?
any reception would be very very very public.
footnote: now that the new museum has been built.
The old museum on the acropolis proper which is underground is available. That would be a decent reception location. would have privacy.
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